8 arrested in illegal gambling game

Tampa police arrested eight people Sunday afternoon near Raymond James Stadium, accusing them of running an illegal lottery game.

The game promised customers a chance at an Xbox or a stuffed animal simply by guessing the right number on a ball, said Tampa police Sgt. Bill Todd.

Plainclothes officers working at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game spotted the gambling operation. The operators set up a booth just southeast of the stadium at 3430 W Douglas Ave., selling chances, police say.

Under state law, such games that involve no skill are illegal, a misdemeanor offense.

Police think the game operators travel around the country. Investigators found gambling receipts totaling $8,505.

All arrested were operating the booth or passing out promotional fliers, Todd said.

Seven of those arrested face a misdemeanor charge of playing a game of chance, jail records show. Thomas Davis, the game booth's manager, faces a felony charge of keeping a gambling house, according to an arrest report.